Bridget McKenzie announces Coalition funding for BB Print Stadium, falls short of Council hopes

Mackay has only been promised one percent of almost $800m in federal election pledges, with civic leaders calling out the divide as ‘hard to swallow’.

MP Andrew Willcox and Senator Bridget McKenzie announcing $1.5 million to BB Print Stadium on Tuesday. Photo: Luke Lay

Mackay has only been promised one percent of the almost $800m in pledges ahead of the Federal election with some of the region’s major ticket items ignored, prompting calls from civic leaders for “a lot more”.

It comes after Shadow Minister of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Bridget McKenzie and incumbent Dawson MP Andrew Willcox on Tuesday promised $1.5m for two new changerooms, improving field lighting and grandstand facility upgrades at BB Print stadium.

This brings Mackay’s election commitments to $8,345,000 of the almost $800m pledged between Gladstone and Cairns, with community leaders calling for the region to get its fair share.

Mackay Regional Council has been pushing for $70m in federal funding to develop Stage Two of the stadium, which includes a new Eastern Stand with 6900 more seats that increases capacity to 10,200 people.

Mackay Regional Council will receive $1.5 million state government funding for infrastructure upgrades at BB Print Stadium. Picture: Max O'Driscoll.

Rockhampton has received more than $42m in election promises, while Cairns in the Leichhardt electorate has so far been promised $480m from both parties, including a significant $245m pledge to repair their new Barron River Bridge.

Chief executive of Great Barrier Reef Arena Adrian Young said the figures showed Mackay wasn’t getting a fair share of investment back, compared to its economic contribution.

“The last thing I want to do is sound ungrateful for what we’ve been able to achieve, with state funding for this next upgrade to the stage two of the Great Barrier Reef Arena, which we see as vital infrastructure and has recently been announced as an Olympic venue.” he said.

“But to look at the figures and to see that the commitment so far is one per cent of the total commitments compared to Rockhampton and Gladstone, Townsville and Cairns, it’s just hard to swallow.”

So far none of Mackay Regional Council’s six major ticket items have received a federal funding pledge this election campaign.

Mayor Greg Williamson said while the LNP’s recent $1.5m announcement was a “great outcome”, in the grand scheme of things “we need a lot more”.

“Democracy is against us,” he said.

Mayor Greg Williamson welcomed the promise but noted more funding was needed.

“Because when there’s one vote, one value, and you’re looking for the federal seats in federal parliament that’s going to be probably hung after this next federal election, they’re going to put the money where they can get the seats.

“Unless we’ve got the people who actually want to bang the drum about the contribution that this region makes to the federal economy, then we’re always going to be faced with this problem.”

The Coalition this week announced a $1bn injection into the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program, with Ms McKenzie outlining $500m going to “local infrastructure”.

Mr Willcox will take to the polls with a 10.4 per cent margin over Labor’s Neil Wallace.

When asked how the Coalition would respond to Mackay voters questioning if the seat’s low risk had resulted in fewer promises, Ms McKenzie responded by just calling out the Labor candidate for not stepping up to meet the pledge.

“I hope over the next 10 days we see the Dawson Labor candidate standing here and giving bipartisan support for the Mackay Cutters,” she said.

Labor’s candidate, Mr Wallace could not promise he would be matching the $1.5m commitment as the candidate for Dawson.

“If elected I will be pursuing the proposal for them and trying to get the best result possible.”

Mackay Regional Council’s big ticket items

• $11m project to connect Reed Street with Norwood Parade to help with traffic congestion in the Northern Beaches
• $20m flood mitigation plan for the Pioneer River
• $8.5m project to upgrade the Holts and Glenella-Richmond Rd intersections.
• $40 million for stage 1B of the Northern Beaches Community Hub
• $70.2 million for stage two of the BB Print Stadium upgrade
• $45 million for stage two of the Finch Hatton Mountain Bike Trail which Mackay Regional Council is pushing for the state to make a priority project.

Mackay’s election commitments

• $3 million for the West Leagues Club expansions and upgrade
• $1.9 million towards the Magpies Sporting Club,
• $170,000 in refurbishing Kaylan Youth Services 
• $200,000 to improve lighting in the Mackay CBD
• $500,000 for City Brothers Football lighting and ticket booth
• $20,000 towards the Angel-Paws Dog and Cat Rescue assessment room
  
• $500,000 for Eastern Swans AFL changerooms
• Masonic centre $50,000 upgrades
• $500,000 for the Club Northern Beaches shade canopy
• Mackay Mens Shed sander upgrade for $5000
  
• $1.5 million for BB Print Stadium changerooms and facility upgrades

Originally published as Bridget McKenzie announces Coalition funding for BB Print Stadium, falls short of Council hopes